The Duty of Care of International Organizations Towards Their Civilian Personnel - Legal Obligations and Implementation Challenges

This book constitutes the first comprehensive publication on the duty of care of international organizations towards their civilian personnel sent on missions and assignments outside of their normal place of activity. While the work of the civilian personnel of international organizations often carries an inherent risk, the regulations, policies and practices of the employer can help to address and mitigate that risk.

In this publication, the specific content and scope of the duty of care under international law is clarified by conducting an unprecedented investigation into relevant jurisprudence and legal sources. Included is a critical assessment of the policies of selected international organizations while a set of guiding principles on the duty of care of international organizations is also presented.

This publication fills a gap in the existing academic literature on the topic and is aimed particularly at academics and practitioners interested in the legal implications of the deployment of civilian personnel abroad by international organizations. This includes scholars and university-level students specializing in international law, international human rights law, the law of international organizations, labour law, EU law, international administrative law and the UN system, and practitioners, such as lawyers and consultants, representing or advising international organizations or their personnel on the legal aspects of deployment.

It is also aimed at the senior management of international organizations and at their officers in charge of recruitment, human resources, training and security, in that it makes clear their legal obligations and provides concrete examples of the policies various international organizations have in place for the protection of civilian personnel. Current and prospective civilian personnel of international organizations should also find the book useful for clarifying their rights and duties.

Andrea de Guttry is Full Professor at the Dirpolis Institute of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Micaela Frulli is Associate Professor at the Dipartimento di Scienze Giuridiche (DSG), University of Florence, Edoardo Greppi is Full Professor at the Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza, University of Turin, and Chiara Macchi is Research Fellow at the Dirpolis Institute of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.

Specific to this book:

• Broadens the understanding of the legal obligations of international organizations towards their civilian personnel
• Provides an exhaustive review of the existing case law on the duty of care of international organizations
• Provides a large number of real-life examples of risks faced by civilian personnel sent on missions and assignments outside of their normal place of activity
• Shares a large number of tips and insights on how international organizations can shape their policies and practices to fulfil their duty of care
• Outlines each of the varied approaches to the duty of care by analysing the policies of selected international organizations
• Reinforces the concept of the duty of care by reference to the human rights obligations of international organizations
• Offers a detailed set of guiding principles on the duty of care of international organizations

With a foreword by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations.